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How-To Geek

If you’ve ever let someone borrow your computer you might not want them to open your active minimized windows. Today we take a look at a free utility that will allow you to lock them down so they can’t be opened.

LockThis!

Here is the scenario…you’re working on important docs on your computer and someone needs to borrow it for a few minutes. You probably minimize the documents, but curious eyes might open them up and see your secret plans for world domination. That is where LockThis! comes in. It allows you to lock your apps by holding down the Ctrl key while you minimize the window.

After installing LockThis! you’ll probably want to change the default password right away. Right-click on the lock icon in the system tray and select Admin Panel.

The first time you access it, you need to use the default password which is “LockThis!” (without the quotes).

Now in the Admin Panel you can change the Password.

You’ll need to enter in the default password “LockThis!” (without quotes) again and click Ok.

Now enter in your new password twice.

It’s noted, but you’ll need to close out of the Admin Panel for it to go into effect.

When you want to lock and minimize a screen, hold down the Ctrl key and click Minimize.

Then as the application minimizes to the system tray you’ll see the LockThis! icon momentarily appear on the Desktop.

There are a couple caveats to using this app though. It doesn’t work with any version of Firefox, and will stop responding in Internet Explorer 8. During out testing it did work with Opera, Chrome, and Safari. If you are looking at non “work safe” sites, that you want to lock down, you might want to use one of these browsers.

Conclusion

There are a few scenarios where LockThis! comes in handy when “Win+L” is not an option. While it doesn’t work perfectly, this project is a cool idea and is effective in keeping most of your minimized windows protected.

Comments (3)

If you are looking at non “work safe” sites, that you want to lock down, you might want to use one of these browsers.

If I’m an admin and you’re looking at “non work safe” sites on company machines, we come over an ask want to check your applications and stumble upon this “lock out” application, we’ll for the password ;)

if you don’t provide it… we’ll escalate the issue :-)
good luck proving why you need to lock out minimized application on your desktop!

Most companies are going to be running some sort of web monitoring/filtering anyway (WebSense, SmartFilter, etc). If you really want to play with fire at work then I hope you value your job.

DID YOU KNOW?

The mechanism in mechanical watches and clocks that transfers energy to the timekeeping element and allows for the counting of oscillations is known as the “escapement”; this key invention, developed in the 13th century, is what made all-mechanical clocks even possible.